In Gujarat polls, these tribals have already won

Dec 16, 2007, 7:13 GMT

Ahmedabad, Dec 16 (IANS) While the candidates in the Gujarat elections will have to wait a while for the results, Latifbhai Dafer and about 4,500 others from nomadic tribes once branded criminal have already won a battle: armed with newly acquired voting rights they cast their votes for the first time Sunday.

'I am very happy that I have been accepted as a normal citizen of this country,' he said after voting in Vasna village in Sanand, about 80 km from Ahmedabad.

'It felt great when they came seeking out votes. At least we can tell them what we want and what they need to do to get our support in politics,'

He belongs to the Dafer tribe that was among the many communities branded criminal under British rule. After independence, their criminal status was 'de-notified' and since they are known as de-notified tribes (DNTs).

In Gujarat, as in many parts of the country, these largely nomadic tribes live on the margins of society and have not bothered to get the voters' identity cards required for polling.

Thanks to the efforts by social activists to bring them into the political mainstream and the positive response to the campaign from the Election Commission, a small number of such people were able to exercise their franchise in the two phases of polling in the Gujarat assembly elections on Dec 11 and 16.

Harinesh Pandya of the Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM), an NGO working for nomadic communities, said that at least 5 to 5.5 million people of Gujarat belong to such tribes of whom at least half are of voting age.

Such tribes in the state include the Madaris or snake charmers, Nats, Bajaniyas, Vadis.

'Since these people are often on the move and do not have a permanent address they have not had any documents and hence no way to vote till now. They do not have any birth certificates; neither do they possess any ration card. They are largely illiterate and do not know how to prove their citizenship,' said Pandya.

A few months ahead of the polls, the NGO made efforts to get these people included in the electoral rolls and approached the Election Commission.

'There was major resistance from residents of the village on the outskirts of which DNTs are living currently. They did not want to be associated with these people. The villagers thought that once they get an identity proof they will demand a greater share in the village's resources,' he explained.

'But election officials were kind enough to start the process of their enrolment on the basis of their affiliation with our organisation.'

However, following a survey, a mere 7,000 people were registered and only 4,500 were given the election photo identity cards.

'But at least a beginning has been made,' Pandya said.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service